Zorion
A Basque name meaning "happiness" or "joy".
Name Census estimates that about 233 living Americans carry the first name Zorion. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zorion today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zorion births was 2009 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zorion. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
233
~ 1 in 1,471,049 Americans
Peak year
2009
19 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,285
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Zorion: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zorion from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 96 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Zorion remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zorion by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Zorion during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zorion
The name Zorion is of Basque origin, tracing its roots back to the Basque region of northern Spain and southwestern France. The name is derived from the Basque word "zoriontsu," which means "fortunate," "lucky," or "blessed." This connection to good fortune and happiness has contributed to the name's enduring popularity within the Basque culture.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zorion can be found in a 16th-century Basque literary work called "Gero" (After) by Pedro de Agerre, a prominent Basque writer and poet. In this work, Agerre uses the name Zorion as a personification of happiness and joy, highlighting the name's symbolic meaning.
Throughout the centuries, the name Zorion has been borne by several notable individuals within the Basque community. One such figure was Zorion Aguirre (1920-2004), a renowned Basque artist and sculptor known for his abstract works and monumental public sculptures. His art celebrated Basque identity and culture, and his use of the name Zorion further reinforced its cultural significance.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Zorion Arteaga (1892-1978), a Basque academic and linguist who dedicated his life to the preservation and promotion of the Basque language. His work on Basque grammar and lexicography helped to solidify the language's standing and contributed to its continued use in the modern era.
In the realm of literature, Zorion Mendizabal (1936-2008) was a celebrated Basque writer and poet. His works, which explored themes of identity, culture, and the human experience, earned him numerous accolades and recognition within the Basque literary community.
Zorion Elizondo (1926-1999) was a Basque politician and activist who played a vital role in the struggle for Basque autonomy and self-determination. His unwavering commitment to the Basque cause and his advocacy for political and cultural rights left a lasting impact on the region's history.
While the name Zorion has deep roots in the Basque culture, its meaning of good fortune and happiness has resonated beyond its place of origin. Across various cultures and regions, the name has been embraced as a symbol of optimism and positivity, reflecting the universal desire for a life filled with joy and blessings.
People
Zorion + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zorion as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zorion: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zorion?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 233 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zorion going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,471,049 US residents.
Is Zorion a common name?
We classify Zorion as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 235 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zorion most popular?
The single biggest year for Zorion was 2009, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zorion is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Zorion in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Zorion a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zorion in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Zorion still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Zorion in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Zorion can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Zorion?
Want to know how many Americans are named Zorion? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.